Soap covered with a soft sheath



Oct. 11, 1938. c. I. MEYER 1 2,132,746

SOAP COVERED WITH A SOFT SHEATH Filed June 7, 1935 2 SheetsShqe t 1 7 730672557 u aac t//@ 6/7 C. l. MEYER SOAP COVERED WITH A SOFT SHEATH Oct. 11, 1938.

Filed June 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE Application June 7, 1935, Serial No. 25,488 In France September 17, 1934 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a soap tablet characterized in that it is provided with peripheral fiutings or grooves parallel with or practicallyparallel with its rubbing surfaces, the said flut-' ings being preferably extended around the soap tablet without interruption.

These fiutings serve the purpose of increasing the adherence of the fingers of the hand gripping the soap and to lessen fatigue due to the clenching of the hand. In addition they allow of a more efficient use of a resilient soap protecting sheath by giving thereto a greater adherence and water tightness.

The accompanying drawings show by way of example, various forms of construction of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows in perspective view a. rectangular tablet of soap with rounded corners provided with fiutings according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows in the same manner an oval shaped tablet.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show in vertical section Various shapes of fiutings amongst those which are most effective.

Figs. 6 and '7 show in horizontal section tablets having certain special features.

Figs. 8 to 11 show in vertical section several other profiles of fiutings.

Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrams explaining modifications in the arrangement of the fiutings.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of a fluting formed with secondary or smaller grooves.

In these figures the fiutings or grooves I are disposed parallel to the rubbing surfaces 2, 2 and preferably extend over the entire periphery of the soap tablet. Naturally these fiutings can be arranged likewise in spiral or zig-zag shape or have any other sinuosity fairly flat so as to have only a slight obliquity in relation to the faces 2, 2' of the soap tablet.

In Figure 5 is shown in broken lines, how a resilient or flexible sheath 3 made of rubber or rubberized fabric or other suitable waterproof material rolled at 3' forms a bead in the groove 1 then as the surface 2' is worn down, said head being adapted to be rolled successively into the following grooves as shown at 3. It will be understood that in this case the fiutings or grooves I ensure a better grip than a smooth surface as well as a more perfect water tightness to prevent water from creeping in between the sheath and the soap than would be obtainable if the sheath were fitted on a tablet having grooves at right angles, or very inclined, in relation to the bead 3, 3". It will likewise be understood that the sides of rectangular soap tablets must preferably be made to bulge outwardly rather than inwardly because in the latter case the sheath would not pull taut on the surfaces and would allow water to seep through in spite of the grooves.

Figure 6 shows in horizontal section taken through a groove, a block or tablet of soap to be protected; the lateral faces and the grooves l are curved inwardly over a short convex curve; the faces or the bottoms of the grooves of adjacent faces may form a sharp edge (as at a) or may be smoothed away by rounding the corner (as at to ensure for the bead of the sheath better adherence and water tightness. The grooves can also be separated in one way or another by a thin wall (as at c) which is sufficiently friable so that the bead of the sheath can break or crush it; this does not affect the result but has the advantage of presenting a block or tablet which is more like that which users are accustomed to see. 20

Fig. 7 shows a horizontal section of a tablet of the same kind but wherein the lateral faces are flat and rectangular. The incurved bottom of the fiutings or grooves i can be tangential to the faces (as represented at the faces d and c) or set back in relation to the faces (as at and g) the faces or the bottoms of the grooves may be connected together according to the modifications above set forth and shown in Fig. 6.

The cross section of the fiutings can likewise have any of a variety of outlines.

Fig. 8 shows fiutings I of castellated shape;

Fig. 9 shows grooves of V-shape;

Fig. 10 shows a rounded form of fluting of which the cross-sectional area increases from the base of the tablet towards the top, in order to approximately correspond with the progressively increasing diameter of the bead formed by the sheath 3 as it is rolled up. In this figure there have also been shown rounded edges at the junction of the side faces and the upper surface 2 of the block or tablet so that the sheath 3 shall not be liable to become damaged by a sharp edge at the place where it is subjected to strong pressure from the hand of the user.

However, this last mentioned form makes it necessary to make sure that the sheath is mounted on the soap tablet from the round edged surface. To avoid this necessity it is possible to provide, as shown in Fig. 11, double grooves each comprising two parts corresponding to' the profiles of Fig. 10 reproduced by starting from each of the wearing surfaces 2 of the block or tablet in such a manner that the'sheath 3 can be mounted upon 55 the tablet from the one or the other of these surfaces with equivalent result.

The general arrangement of the fiutings on the lateral surfaces of the tablets can also form the subject of variations especially to correspond with an unequal wear of the tablet. It is possible, for instance, to arrange the flutings as shown in Fig. 12 where the lines k--lc represent the planes in which the fiutings are disposed obliquely in relation to the faces 2, 2' or else as shown in Fig. 13 where the lines k-Ic are arranged in fan formation. It will be clear that bearing this in mind, these constructions are not limitative and do not prevent the simultaneous use of flutings arranged in planes ll parallel to 22 or in a slanting direction opposite to that represented by the lines kk so as to give to the user every opportunity of fixing the bead 3 of the sheath in a position corresponding to the inclined wear of the tablet.

Finally it may be of advantage to provide the walls of the flutings with secondary or smaller grooves parallel to or slightly inclined to the longitudinal axis of the flutings or else forming a continuous line for the purpose of diminishing the surface of contact of the bead against the bottom of the flutings without affecting adversely the water tightness brought about by such contact; such an arrangement lends itself to an infinite number of constructions or variations for which reason only the simplest form has been shown in cross section in Fig. 14 where a fluting (drawn to a much enlarged scale in comparison with that of the other figures) is provided with secondary or smaller grooves 4 which leave ridges 5 therebetween against which the bead 3 of the protecting cover 3 can rest. 7

it is to be well understood that the constructional forms hereinabove described and shown are given only by way of example and may vary to a large extent without affecting the characteristic features of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a soap tablet, a pliable protective sheath adapted to be rolled up and down along the lateral faces of said tablet, said faces being formed with fiutings extending peripherally around the tablet, so that the roll of said sheath can be accommodated in each of the successive flutings according as the tablet is worn away from the surface toward which said sheath unrolls.

2. In combination, a soap tablet, a pliable protective sheath adapted to be rolled up and down along the lateral faces of said tablet, saidfaces being formed with iiutings extending peripherally around the tablet, so that the roll of said sheath can be accommodated in each of the successive fiutings according as the tablet is worn away from the surface toward which said sheath unrolls, the walls of said flutings being formed with series of secondary or smaller grooves, to diminish the surface of contact with said roll and to increase the grip on said roll in any given fluting, whereby to improve the tightness of said sheath.

3. In combination, a soap tablet, a pliable protective sheath adapted to be rolled up and down along the lateral faces of said tablet, said faces being formed with flutings extending peripherally around the tablet, so that the roll of said sheath can be accommodated in each of the successive flutings according as the tablet is worn away from the surface toward which said sheath unrolls, said fiutings increasing successively in cross-sectional area from said surface to the opposite surface, to accommodate the diameter of said roll at any given fluting.

4. A soap tablet having an end wearing surface and lateral faces substantially at right angles thereto, said tablet being adapted to be provided with a pliable protective sheath to be rolled up and down along its lateral faces, said lateral faces being formed with flutings substantially parallel 'to said wearing surface and extending along the entire periphery of said tablet, so that the roll of said sheath can be accommodated in each of the successive fiutings according as the tablet is worn away from said wearing surface.

5. A soap tablet having an end wearing surface and lateral faces substantially at right angles thereto, said tablet being adapted to be provided with a pliable protective sheath to be rolled up and down along its lateral faces, said lateral faces being formed with flutings substantially parallel to said wearing surface and extending-along the periphery of said tablet, so that the roll of said sheath can be accommodated in each of the successive fiutings according as the tablet is worn away from said wearing surface, the walls of said flutings being formed with a series of secondary or smaller grooves, to diminish the surface of contact with such roll and to increase the grip on such roll in any given fluting, whereby to improve the tightness of such sheath.

' 6. A soap tablet having an end wearing surface and lateral faces substantially at right angles thereto, said tablet being adapted to be provided with a pliable protective sheath tobe rolled up and down along its lateral faces, said lateral faces being formed with fiutings substantially parallel to said wearing surface and extending along the entire periphery of said tablet, so that the roll of said sheath can be accommodated in each of the successive flutings according as the tablet is worn away from said wearing surface, said fiutings increasing successively in cross-sectional area from said surface'to the opposite surface, to accommodate the diameter of such roll at any given fluting.

CLAUDE ISAAC MEYER. 

